Save Money Renting a Car in Europe

Sometimes an affordable transcontinental trip plannedcarefully after a thorough review of cheaptravel options, including cheap airplane tickets, discount hotel rooms, cheap auto rentals, discounttravel deals, cheapdeals, and cheap vacation packages, canend up costing more than anticipated because your final car rental cost was farmore than budgeted.

Travelers to Europe should try to take advantage of thecontinents super efficient public transportation system. However, if you would like to visit more remoteor rural places that are not covered by public transportation then renting acar becomes a necessity. Such places asEnglands Cotswolds, Norways fjord country, Spains Picos de Europa mountains,Frances Normandy beaches and Tuscan hill towns require cars to visit.

The following are tips on how to keep European car rentalsaffordable from Rick Steves:

• Lowest prices can usually only be accessed bymaking your car rental reservation prior to departing for yourdestination. Prices often rangesignificantly, depending on the month, country, and rental company. Compare prices from multiple rental companiesbefore selecting one. Ironically theleast expensive company for rentals in one country sometimes is the mostexpensive in an adjacent country. Leasingis cheaper for trips lasting three or more weeks. By selecting a well-known carrental company you will usually have an easier time later if there are anyproblems that need to be resolved.

• Cars in Europe tend to have less passenger andtrunk space. Manual transmission is thenorm. Automatics can be priced as muchas 50 percent more and are often only available if you make your reservationwell in advance and/or upgrade to a larger car. If driving cheaply is your goal, be prepared to rent a car with manualtransmission.

• Before completing your reservation, check tosee if the location and hours of your pickup and drop-off choices areacceptable. Smaller rental locations,even in large cities, are often closed on Saturday afternoons, Sundays, andholidays. Offices often have a key boxand will let renters drop off their cars after hours.

• Be sure to reconfirm your reservation at leasta couple of times, including the day prior to picking up your car.

• If you will be starting your trip in a majorcity, such as Paris, consider taking a train to an easier to navigate smallertown (such as Chartres) to pick up your rental. Arrange to drop off your car at the airport lot if you will be flyingout of the country. One way rentals donot typically cost more within the same country, with Germany and Portugalbeing exceptions.

• Before finalizing your travel plans or rentalreservations, if you are planning to cross borders, find out the costs ofdropping off a car in another country. This often results in an additional very expensive fee.

• Base rental rates in Europe almost alwaysinclude basic mandated liability coverage for accidents related to damage toanyone or anything outside of the car. Typically renters face a high deductible for damage to the car beingdriven, sometimes equal to the entire value of the car.

  If youwant to insure against the risk of damage or theft to the car you have threeoptions: Buy a collisional damage waiver(CDW) through a car rental company, which is easiest but most expensive, use acredit card that offers coverage (usually the cheapest option, but you need toreview coverage limitations with your credit card company), or purchasecollision insurance as part of a larger travel insurance policy.

• Remember when filling your gas tank you will bepaying in euros and the measurement is in liters. Gas in Europe costs about $8 a gallon. The good news is that distances are usuallyshort and many European cars get great mileage. In big cities, you would be smart to park your car and use public transit,reserving your car for drives to explore the countryside.

• Be aware that there are photo speed traps andrestricted driving zones in many old town centers. Often speeders have no idea about ticketsuntil months later when a letter arrives in the mail and/or a charge shows upon their credit cards.

• Do not drink and drive. Europe takes its DUI laws very seriously.